Executive Summary

Press Release

California is leaving hundreds of millions of federal dollars untapped each year that should be going to veteran pension and health benefits. California must do more to identify veterans, educate them about their rights and help them file well-documented claims, especially women veterans.

Texas and Florida, which count fewer veterans in their populations, both bring in more federal pension and health benefit dollars per veteran than California does. These benefits are not a privilege, they are a right, and earned through sacrifice to the nation as a whole. Helping veterans to receive these benefits can immeasurably improve their lives and bring more dollars into the California economy.

In a study released today, An Agenda for Veterans: The State’s Turn to Serve, the Little Hoover Commission identified recent improvements at the California Department of Veterans Affairs, or CalVet. However, the commission also noted that many of these improvements were slow to be implemented and will require continued oversight to ensure they fully take hold.

The Governor and Legislature have allocated one-time money to help CalVet reach out to more veterans and assist their efforts to receive federal benefits to which they are entitled. The new money will be used to create three strike teams focused on eliminating a backlog of benefit claims at federal Veterans Administration offices in Los Angeles, San Diego and Oakland. The state also is supplementing aid to counties for their County Veterans Services Offices, one of the main outreach programs for helping veterans.

The Commission challenged CalVet to demonstrate that it can invest this added money in ways that improve the lives of California 1.8 million veterans.

The Little Hoover Commission urged the Governor and the Legislature to take a new look at the ways in which the state allocates resources to serving California veterans.

Leaders at CalVet expect the state to take in 35,000 or more new veterans each year for the next several years as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan conclude. In past conflicts, neither the state nor the federal government has put its best foot forward in serving veterans. The federal government provides the broadest array of services and compensation to veterans, but slow processing, archaic systems and a complex benefit application process have created a system that is difficult to navigate, time consuming and severely backlogged.

The state historically has focused its efforts on a home loan program and on building and operating veterans homes. The department also has operated a Veterans Services Division funded at a fraction of the level of the other programs. It is through this program that the state can serve the greatest number of veterans and help veterans successfully return to civilian life. It will require helping the federal government do its part through assisting veterans to file complete and well-documented claims for benefits. It also means helping County Veterans Services Offices to be more successful in reaching out to veterans. Now that CalVet has been given one-time budget increases to bolster efforts in each of these areas, the department must demonstrate that it can deliver. To do so, it must hold County Veterans Services Offices more accountable for their performance.

“Too many California veterans have earned benefits they are not receiving because of bureaucratic delay, government malaise, and a lack of coordination among a number of government offices and agencies,” Commission Chairman Jonathan Shapiro said. “The best way to honor our veterans isn’t through speeches or proclamations. It’s by ensuring that each veteran gets all the services they deserve in a fair and timely way.”

In its report, the Commission urges the Governor and Legislature to aid the department’s transition by providing funding flexibility and improved oversight of veterans services. The Commission also urges CalVet to improve its outreach efforts, build a strong database of California veterans, monitor county veterans offices’ work more closely to ensure effectiveness, and modernize its approaches to providing solutions to the needs of the youngest generation of California veterans.

Finally, the Commission urged the Legislature and Governor to revisit the state Military and Veterans Code. This outdated code is confusing, contradictory and misaligned with current CalVet practices and veterans’ needs. It warrants updating to reflect current policies and CalVet’s direction.

The Little Hoover Commission is a bipartisan and independent state agency charged with recommending ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state programs. The Commission’s recommendations are submitted to the Governor and the Legislature for their consideration and action. For a copy of the report, visit the Commission’s website: www.lhc.ca.gov.

Fact Sheet

Study Description

For this study, the Commission examined how California serves its veterans. The state is home to approximately 2 million veterans, a population that is evolving as battlefields, diagnoses and demographics change.

In this study, the Commission sought to determine whether the existing state programs available to veterans are aligned with veterans' current needs, and whether the organizations and agencies that serve veterans are equipped to connect veterans to the benefits for which they are eligible. The Commission also reviewed benefits and programs available and the ways in which state organizations reach veterans. The Commission also examined similiar programs that the California Military Department administers to its National Guard members, and the ways in which these programs help to ensure the state's readiness for emergencies.

Agenda

Overview

In this report, the Commission calls for improved oversight of veterans’ services at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Commission recommends for the department to do the following: improve outreach efforts to veterans, build a strong database of California veterans, monitor county veterans offices’ work to ensure effectiveness and modernize its approaches to serve needs of the youngest generation of California veterans. The Commission also recommends updating the Military and Veterans Code to better align with current CalVet practices and veterans’ needs.

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on veterans’ services. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Employment Development Department Auditorium, 722 Capitol Mall, Sacramento.

Through its study, the Commission will examine how the state is addressing the changing needs of California’s veteran population and how agencies and organizations are providing services and linking veterans with the federal compensation, benefits and programs to which they are entitled. At this hearing, the Commission will further examine the roles and functions of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, the operation of the eight state-run veterans homes, and the role that Veterans Service Organizations and county veterans service officers play in connecting veterans with their services.

The Commission will hear from the secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs as well as the chief financial officer for the department’s Veterans Homes Division. Following their testimony, the Commission will hear from representatives of the American Legion Department of California and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of California regarding the outreach efforts and work of their organizations. Finally, the president of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, who also is San Diego County’s county veterans service officer, will discuss the work of service officers in California and across the nation.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, April 16, 2013.

Discussion: Stakeholders representing a wide range of perspectives will discuss the ways in which organizations and agencies identify and reach out to women veterans, the types of programs women veterans seek and how needs are met.

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will convene two separate advisory committee meetings. The first meeting will discuss women veterans’ issues and begin at 10 a.m. in the Legislative Counsel Conference Room, Lower Level, 925 L Street in Sacramento.

The discussion will explore issues women veterans face while assimilating back into society. Participants also will discuss the ways in which organizations are reaching out to women veterans. A second advisory committee meeting will be held at the same location and begin at 1:30 p.m. The afternoon session will focus on bail and pre-trial diversion services. A separate group of experts have been invited to discuss this topic.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Wednesday, March 6, 2013.

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Tuesday, January 22, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on veterans’ services. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 2040 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

The Commission seeks to determine whether existing state programs are appropriately aligned with veterans’ current needs and whether organizations and agencies serving veterans are equipped to connect them to the benefits for which they are eligible. The Commission will review benefits and programs available to veterans and the ways in which state, county and community organizations conduct outreach. The Commission also will examine similar programs that the California Military Department administers for its National Guard members, and the ways in which these programs help to ensure the state’s readiness for emergencies.

On January 22, the Commission will hear from officials at the California Department of Veterans Affairs, who will discuss the state’s role in providing services to veterans. The Commission also will hear from representatives of the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies and the Vietnam Veterans of California, Inc. The two panelists will provide an overview of the current needs of veterans. The director of veteran services for Solano County will discuss services provided by local agencies. Finally, the Commission will hear from a panel of high-ranking officials from the California Military Department who will discuss the services offered to active members in the National Guard and how needs are targeted to ensure readiness.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, January 15, 2013.

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on veterans’ services. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Employment Development Department Auditorium, 722 Capitol Mall, Sacramento.

Through its study, the Commission will examine how the state is addressing the changing needs of California’s veteran population and how agencies and organizations are providing services and linking veterans with the federal compensation, benefits and programs to which they are entitled. At this hearing, the Commission will further examine the roles and functions of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, the operation of the eight state-run veterans homes, and the role that Veterans Service Organizations and county veterans service officers play in connecting veterans with their services.

The Commission will hear from the secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs as well as the chief financial officer for the department’s Veterans Homes Division. Following their testimony, the Commission will hear from representatives of the American Legion Department of California and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of California regarding the outreach efforts and work of their organizations. Finally, the president of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, who also is San Diego County’s county veterans service officer, will discuss the work of service officers in California and across the nation.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, April 16, 2013.

Discussion: Stakeholders representing a wide range of perspectives will discuss the ways in which organizations and agencies identify and reach out to women veterans, the types of programs women veterans seek and how needs are met.

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will convene two separate advisory committee meetings. The first meeting will discuss women veterans’ issues and begin at 10 a.m. in the Legislative Counsel Conference Room, Lower Level, 925 L Street in Sacramento.

The discussion will explore issues women veterans face while assimilating back into society. Participants also will discuss the ways in which organizations are reaching out to women veterans. A second advisory committee meeting will be held at the same location and begin at 1:30 p.m. The afternoon session will focus on bail and pre-trial diversion services. A separate group of experts have been invited to discuss this topic.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Wednesday, March 6, 2013.

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Tuesday, January 22, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on veterans’ services. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 2040 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

The Commission seeks to determine whether existing state programs are appropriately aligned with veterans’ current needs and whether organizations and agencies serving veterans are equipped to connect them to the benefits for which they are eligible. The Commission will review benefits and programs available to veterans and the ways in which state, county and community organizations conduct outreach. The Commission also will examine similar programs that the California Military Department administers for its National Guard members, and the ways in which these programs help to ensure the state’s readiness for emergencies.

On January 22, the Commission will hear from officials at the California Department of Veterans Affairs, who will discuss the state’s role in providing services to veterans. The Commission also will hear from representatives of the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies and the Vietnam Veterans of California, Inc. The two panelists will provide an overview of the current needs of veterans. The director of veteran services for Solano County will discuss services provided by local agencies. Finally, the Commission will hear from a panel of high-ranking officials from the California Military Department who will discuss the services offered to active members in the National Guard and how needs are targeted to ensure readiness.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, January 15, 2013.

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on veterans’ services. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Employment Development Department Auditorium, 722 Capitol Mall, Sacramento.

Through its study, the Commission will examine how the state is addressing the changing needs of California’s veteran population and how agencies and organizations are providing services and linking veterans with the federal compensation, benefits and programs to which they are entitled. At this hearing, the Commission will further examine the roles and functions of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, the operation of the eight state-run veterans homes, and the role that Veterans Service Organizations and county veterans service officers play in connecting veterans with their services.

The Commission will hear from the secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs as well as the chief financial officer for the department’s Veterans Homes Division. Following their testimony, the Commission will hear from representatives of the American Legion Department of California and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of California regarding the outreach efforts and work of their organizations. Finally, the president of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, who also is San Diego County’s county veterans service officer, will discuss the work of service officers in California and across the nation.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, April 16, 2013.

Discussion: Stakeholders representing a wide range of perspectives will discuss the ways in which organizations and agencies identify and reach out to women veterans, the types of programs women veterans seek and how needs are met.

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will convene two separate advisory committee meetings. The first meeting will discuss women veterans’ issues and begin at 10 a.m. in the Legislative Counsel Conference Room, Lower Level, 925 L Street in Sacramento.

The discussion will explore issues women veterans face while assimilating back into society. Participants also will discuss the ways in which organizations are reaching out to women veterans. A second advisory committee meeting will be held at the same location and begin at 1:30 p.m. The afternoon session will focus on bail and pre-trial diversion services. A separate group of experts have been invited to discuss this topic.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Wednesday, March 6, 2013.

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Tuesday, January 22, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on veterans’ services. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 2040 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

The Commission seeks to determine whether existing state programs are appropriately aligned with veterans’ current needs and whether organizations and agencies serving veterans are equipped to connect them to the benefits for which they are eligible. The Commission will review benefits and programs available to veterans and the ways in which state, county and community organizations conduct outreach. The Commission also will examine similar programs that the California Military Department administers for its National Guard members, and the ways in which these programs help to ensure the state’s readiness for emergencies.

On January 22, the Commission will hear from officials at the California Department of Veterans Affairs, who will discuss the state’s role in providing services to veterans. The Commission also will hear from representatives of the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies and the Vietnam Veterans of California, Inc. The two panelists will provide an overview of the current needs of veterans. The director of veteran services for Solano County will discuss services provided by local agencies. Finally, the Commission will hear from a panel of high-ranking officials from the California Military Department who will discuss the services offered to active members in the National Guard and how needs are targeted to ensure readiness.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, January 15, 2013.

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on veterans’ services. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Employment Development Department Auditorium, 722 Capitol Mall, Sacramento.

Through its study, the Commission will examine how the state is addressing the changing needs of California’s veteran population and how agencies and organizations are providing services and linking veterans with the federal compensation, benefits and programs to which they are entitled. At this hearing, the Commission will further examine the roles and functions of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, the operation of the eight state-run veterans homes, and the role that Veterans Service Organizations and county veterans service officers play in connecting veterans with their services.

The Commission will hear from the secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs as well as the chief financial officer for the department’s Veterans Homes Division. Following their testimony, the Commission will hear from representatives of the American Legion Department of California and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of California regarding the outreach efforts and work of their organizations. Finally, the president of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, who also is San Diego County’s county veterans service officer, will discuss the work of service officers in California and across the nation.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Commission Executive Director Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, April 16, 2013.

Discussion: Stakeholders representing a wide range of perspectives will discuss the ways in which organizations and agencies identify and reach out to women veterans, the types of programs women veterans seek and how needs are met.

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Wednesday, March 13, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will convene two separate advisory committee meetings. The first meeting will discuss women veterans’ issues and begin at 10 a.m. in the Legislative Counsel Conference Room, Lower Level, 925 L Street in Sacramento.

The discussion will explore issues women veterans face while assimilating back into society. Participants also will discuss the ways in which organizations are reaching out to women veterans. A second advisory committee meeting will be held at the same location and begin at 1:30 p.m. The afternoon session will focus on bail and pre-trial diversion services. A separate group of experts have been invited to discuss this topic.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Wednesday, March 6, 2013.

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Tuesday, January 22, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on veterans’ services. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 2040 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

The Commission seeks to determine whether existing state programs are appropriately aligned with veterans’ current needs and whether organizations and agencies serving veterans are equipped to connect them to the benefits for which they are eligible. The Commission will review benefits and programs available to veterans and the ways in which state, county and community organizations conduct outreach. The Commission also will examine similar programs that the California Military Department administers for its National Guard members, and the ways in which these programs help to ensure the state’s readiness for emergencies.

On January 22, the Commission will hear from officials at the California Department of Veterans Affairs, who will discuss the state’s role in providing services to veterans. The Commission also will hear from representatives of the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies and the Vietnam Veterans of California, Inc. The two panelists will provide an overview of the current needs of veterans. The director of veteran services for Solano County will discuss services provided by local agencies. Finally, the Commission will hear from a panel of high-ranking officials from the California Military Department who will discuss the services offered to active members in the National Guard and how needs are targeted to ensure readiness.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments.

All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, January 15, 2013.